The Val Gardena ski area is one of 12 regions that make up the Dolomiti Superski region in the Dolomite Mountains of northern Italy. This massive ski area has over 460 lifts and more than 1200km of marked ski runs (pistes) as well as off-piste possibilities. In the week of the conference you will only scratch the surface of this massive area. All the lifts are covered by a single ski lift ticket that costs about AUD$45 per day (very good value by world standards). Those of you who have not skied in a large linked European ski area before will be in for the skiing experience of a lifetime. Skiing from valley to valley and passing through town after town, all with a history that goes back hundreds of years, without having to use the same lift twice is a magical experience. I have skied this region a number times now and have developed a fair local knowledge in the process that I am happy to share as an unofficial guide.
At 3,181m Sassolungo Dominates the Selva skyline
History:
The area has an interesting history. Briefly, the Val Gardena valley is one of the four Ladine valleys. The history and culture of the Ladin People dates back to a long tradition, starting from the Roman Age when the area was known as Ladina. The Ladin language was introduced around the year 15 b.c. by the Roman invaders coming from south to conquer the northern areas and it still maintains its own idiomatic integrity. Due to their impervious and hardly reachable geographic position the Ladine Valleys were never directly involved in the later invaders from the north, like the Barbarians and the Longobards. Their traditions have remained in tact. Nowadays more than 40,000 people in the valleys still speak Ladin, a neo Latin language. Check this link for information on the local language.
The area was part of Austria prior to the first world war. The Austrian influence is still strong and all towns in the area have both an Italian and Austrian name (hence Selva Gardena/Wolkenstein). Language is a mix of Ladin, German and Italian. In practice may people speak at least three languages as well as at least a working knowledge of English. It is not hard to get by in the area with English as your only language. The cultural mix is one thing that makes the whole experience so rich.
Skiing:
However, the area today is most famous for the skiing. You may have heard of the famous Sella Ronda ski route. This is a circuit that takes skiers around the Sella Group mountain. In doing so you will pass through the 4 Ladin Valleys of Val Gardena, Alta Badia, Arabba and Val de Fassa and the towns of Selva, Colfosco, Corvara, Arabba and Canazei. It makes for a great days skiing covering a huge distance and never skiing the same run twice. It is widely acknowledged as one of the great intermediate skiing experiences in the world and can be travelled in either a clockwise or anticlockwise direction. Another great days skiing involves setting off early and making your way to the village of Armentarola in the Badia Valley. From here you catch a taxi to Passo Falzarago and take the Lagazuoi cable car to almost 3000m. From this point ski the 'hidden valley' run which is about 12k long past frozen waterfalls and magnificent scenery. You arrive at a frozen creek and get pulled behind a horse and sleigh back (pictured) to Armentarola.
There are many other exciting options like this in this massive network of skiing possibilities. Most of them are able to be skied by an average intermediate skier. There is a free ski bus service around most of the area that allows excursions to other non ski linked Dolomite areas such as Cortina, site of the 1956 winter Olympic games. At least 4 current world cup downhill runs are within reach, the famous Val Gardena men's world Cup downhill run, 'Saslong' is accessed from the top of the 'home' ski lift. There is also a great beginner friendly area in the town and two excellent ski schools. It is not a problem to get an English speaking instructor and ski school prices are quite affordable (a one hour private lesson is about A$45).
The scenery is spectacular. The Dolomite mountain peaks are huge limestone remnants of an ancient coral reef. They change colour in different light conditions and form a wonderful contrast to the white snow backdrop. This really is one of the most spectacular ski areas of the world and I have been to a few.
